At this significant question the robbers started, and their faces looked dark and threatening.
“What makes you think he won’t, lieutenant?” asked one.
“Human nature,” replied Alonzo. “If he gets a good round sum, say ten or twenty thousand dollars, he will be tempted to keep it all himself, and leave us to our fate. Who shall say there is no danger? What should hinder his taking the next steamer for New York?”
Alonzo saw by the fierce looks of his adherents that his suggestion had produced its effect. He continued:
“I noticed, just before the captain’s departure, that he acted strangely; he took walks by himself, and evidently had some plan in view. I noticed also that he had a confidential talk with the boy, Tom. What does all this mean?”
“But the bonds didn’t belong to the boy.”
“No, but there were other matters in which he might wish to obtain information from the boy. Again, this boy was on his way to the mines. After his talk with the captain, he changed his plans and returned to the city. Shall I tell you what I think?”
“I think, then, that the boy and he were old acquaintances, that he brought the captain a message from outside, and that this and the bonds decided him to abandon us.”
“Let us pursue him! Let us kill him!” exclaimed the exasperated robbers.
“Hold! not so fast. Let him be followed, but by one only. Remember, he may be innocent. He may mean to deal fairly and squarely with us. If so, let him still remain our honored chief. But if he means to play us false”—here the speaker’s face grew stern—“let him die the death of a traitor.”
“Appoint me to follow and watch him. I will go in disguise. I will see for myself what he does. I will dog his steps, and if it be true that he would desert us, I will be your avenger. Shall it be so?”
“Yes, yes, let Alonzo go!” was the unanimous shout.
“Be it so. Boys, I go as your messenger. I go into danger, but I go to serve your interests. Whoever may be found wanting, you shall never find me a traitor.”
He finished his harangue, and an hour later he was on his way to San Francisco, which he reached nearly as soon as the captain.
He met his superior in command for the first time on the occasion mentioned in the last chapter. He penetrated his disguise at once, assisted thereto by his companion’s presence. As we know, the captain was not so fortunate, and in the bowed and decrepit beggar who implored alms, he failed to recognize his subordinate—the man whom he had the greatest cause to fear—nor did he observe that the beggar followed him. Had he done so, his suspicions would hardly have been aroused.